I am considering writing a book on animal grieving, as I’ve mentioned.

I look at this photo of these four wonderful creatures, all of whom I love and live with, and who have shaped my life and enriched it.

They will all die, almost sure within the next decade. I know people suffer much pain when their dogs or cats or other animals die. I have been studying and writing about animal grieving for some time and I know how much people suffer from it. I think I can be helpful.

So I will remember this and pass it on.

When my dog dies, I will remind myself that I took good care of them and gave them good lives.

I kept them healthy, fed them well, made sure they were comfortable, healthy,  and loved every day. I trained them and exercised them and helped them do the things that dogs love to do – sniff, hang around, run in the woods, chase things. I gave each of them work to do. Rose has worked sheep and run the farm, Izzy does hospice therapy work, Lenore is in charge of love and garbage, and Frieda protects all of the things around her.

I will remember that dogs do not live as long as we do, and that I am their advocate and champion. When they get sick or face death, I will speak for them, and it is my job to guide them into the next place with love, consideration and selflessness. I will do what is best for them, not for me. I will not permit them to suffer, I will be with them at the end, say goodbye with love and dignity.

I will remember the dog perspective. They do not know about death or fear it. They experience pain and suffering differently. They are not children or little people. If a dog had our consciousness, he or she would most want us to experience the love and companionship of another dog. So I will go and get another dog, and help heal myself.

I will take this loss seriously. Mourn it, mark it, respect it. And then move on with my life.

And I will remember that in my consciousness, dogs never die. They live on in so many ways it is not possible to count them, ways that will touch and shape me as long as I live.